Top 5 World Problems

    Rank of World Problems

    1) Poverty, hunger, and lack of drinking water

    2) Rapid climate change

    3) The downward trending economy

    4) Terrorism 

    5) Increasing global population

    Rank of Solutions to the Top 5 Major World Problems  

    1)     Climate change is a global issue that effects everyone on Earth.  The rapid change in climate has caused a rise in sea levels and temperatures, change in landscape, increased risk for wildlife animals and their ecosystems, more heat-related illness and diseases, and stronger storm systems.  Climate change is an environmental issue primarily effecting our generation and an issue our generation needs to find a solution to in order to save the health of our planet.  I believe climate change can be reduced and monitored by conserving energy on everyday activities like turning your thermostat down two degrees during the winter and vice versa during the summer, sharing carpool rides, switching your lightbulbs to energy conserving safe light bulbs, and turning off lights when you're not in that room to conserve energy.

    2)     I believe the biggest issue facing the world today is the abundance of poverty and immense hunger in the world coupled with a lack of drinking water.  Hunger and malnutrition continues to be the leading issue for risk to ones health worldwide.  According to the Hunger Project, one in nine people do not get enough food to eat on a daily basis.  The Hunger Project works with communities to develop new water resources, ensure clean water and improved sanitation, and implement water conservation techniques.  Even with the efforts of companies like the Hunger Project, 1.7 billion people still lack access to clean water and 2.3 billion people each year suffer from water-borne diseases each year.  Yes, we are making changes to help improve poverty, hunger, and a lack of drinking water, but I think much more still needs to be done for this issue.  Fighting hunger and malnutrition requires the effort of many in the process of improving roads, setting up clean water systems, getting politicians to make smart and informed policies and laws, creating an environment where people have sustainable access to healthy produce and food selection. 

    3)     First off I would like to point out that population growth is a choice and not a inexorable force of nature.  If we as a global population see a significant increase in global population, then we the inhabitants of the Earth have a the choice to solve that ourselves. I see population growth as an issue because it's placing immense pressure on the Earth and the environment with more carbon emissions into the atmosphere, more stomachs to feed, more available and fresh drinking water will be needed, etc.  I believe the population is already pressuring the atmosphere and environment and the population growth rate continues to increase.  

    4)     Terrorism is a rapidly growing global issue.  The war on terror began in 2001 when the Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda attacked the twin towers in New York City, killing over three thousand people.  Recently, the terrorist attacks in France and Denmark have further increased the awareness of terrorism as a global issue.  The U.S. along with other nations have sprung into heavy security to prevent further acts of terrorism.  I think the best way to prevent further terrorist attacks is to eliminate the problem from the root and declare war against terrorism.  But I believe such attacks and strategy should be led by the United Nations or a new alliance should be formed against terrorism with an army and means to fight these vicious attacks. 

    5)     The world economy is not in good shape.  Trends show that the worst global economic issues are in continental Europe where German growth has stumbled, causing the euro area to be approaching its third recession in six years.  The economy can be fixed by creating new money through new jobs and new wealth.  Don't simply create new money but find a means to create new jobs and new wealth.  Use this restart as an opportunity to build the new green economy, eradicate fuel poverty, and tackle the climate crisis at the same time.  

                For my case, my top problem was on global poverty, hunger, and a lack of drinking water.  I chose this as my top problem facing the world today because individuals can not function properly under malnutrition. Even with the efforts of  global health organizations, 1.7 billion people still lack access to clean water and 2.3 billion people each year suffer from water-borne diseases each year.  I see world hunger and malnutrition as a major issue, but not one that will be solved within the next few years.  I listed climate change as my top solution because I believe that we as the population of the Earth emit way too many carbon emissions into the Earth's atmosphere.  I also believe that climate change is the easiest issue to deal with today because everyone can participate on a daily basis just around their home.  I believe climate change can be reduced and monitored by conserving energy on everyday activities like turning your thermostat down two degrees during the winter and vice versa during the summer, sharing carpool rides, switching your lightbulbs to energy conserving safe light bulbs, and turning off lights when you're not in that room to conserve energy.